The Romanian village of Buteni: A climate-neutral rural community in the making

Freshly returned from researching best practices in urban centres abroad, a dedicated team of local officials are determined to bring their green vision for their hometown to life. 

In recent years, the rural community of Ciugud in Alba Iulia has been lauded as a successful example of how to embrace sustainable living in Romania. Now, a promising new contender has emerged, one that’s even more attuned to the social needs of its community and committed to meeting Romania’s climate neutrality goals. 

Buteni, a village located 70 kilometres from the main city in Arad County, boasts a thriving local economy populated by small agricultural and furniture businesses as well as a local secondary school. Through continued investment in local education and infrastructure, Buteni has managed to avoid the population drain experienced by so many other villages in Romania. To further strengthen roots within the community, the local administration recently launched a programme aimed at attracting Romanians living abroad to purchase homes in the village. 

Green House programme driven by local ingenuity 

Romania has significant potential to generate energy from sustainable sources, notably solar energy.Based on national energy strategy estimates, harnessing the country’s solar resources could lead to the installation of 4,000 megawatts in total capacity and the annual production of 4.8 terawatt hoursof energy. Recognising this untapped potential, the local administration in Buteni has taken the initiative to seek funding through programmes offered by the Romanian government. 

One such scheme is the Green House programme, which incentivises homeowners to install photovoltaic panels for electricity production in their homes. Managed by the Environmental Fund Administration (AFM), the programme provides non-reimbursable funding to cover the purchase and installation of photovoltaic systems. The subsidy can cover up to 90 per cent of the total costs, capped at roughly EUR 4000 per project.  

Aware of the potential challenges faced by the rural population, especially when it comes to bureaucracy and digital literacy, Buteni’s administration has taken the proactive step of assisting residents in filing their funding applications. 

And the results speak for themselves. Over the past three years, thanks to the Green House programme, more than 200 residents have installed or are due to install photovoltaic panels. This translates to an approximate total capacity of 800 kW.  

Impressively, around 20 per cent of the houses in Buteni will benefit from the programme, with EUR 720 000 in government funds accessed to date. This amount is also supplemented by a contribution from the beneficiaries themselves amounting to EUR 280 000. As evidenced by the ongoing interest from prospective applicants, the local administration is keen to help residents to continue access funding this year. 

Expanding solar power  

Building on the success of the Green House programme, the local authorities have also set their sights on financing sustainable energy sources through additional schemes, recently securing funding from central government through the EU’s Modernisation Fund. This will see the installation of a total capacity of 399 kilowatts (kW) of photovoltaic panels, encompassing a 155 kW photovoltaic park and the installation of 244 kW of panels on public buildings. 

Of course, the expected influx of renewable energy also presents new challenges. For instance, the expected 800 kW increase in household electricity production is likely to place significant demands on the current electricity distribution system. 

Recognising the scale of the task ahead, Buteni is now seeking a grant to conduct a feasibility study aimed at modernising its energy transport network. The project will see the involvement of researchers from universities in Bucharest, Cluj–Napoca, and Timisoara.  

These efforts should not only help ensure that the grid can handle the anticipated capacity issues, but also lay the groundwork for establishing Buteni’s first energy community. On top of that, the local authorities have started to rehabilitate the public lighting system, which will see 564 conventional lighting fixtures replaced with LED lights.  

Buteni’s vision for a sustainable future also extends beyond its borders. Local authorities recently participated in a knowledge-sharing programme involving professionals from Arad County and experts in Norway. The programme offered participants valuable insights into best practices from Norway aimed at increasing their knowledge of renewable energy and energy efficiency and enhancing their administrative capacities.  

These efforts speak volumes about Buteni’s commitment to sustainable living. By learning from others and implementing innovative solutions proven to work elsewhere, the village is paving the way for a greener future. 

What’s next for Buteni? 

Aside from its plans for the electricity distribution sector, the village also aims to undertake research on geothermal water resources. Looking ahead, their eventual goal is to exploit geothermal energy to create their own district heating system.  

Education is another key focus. Having recently modernised the local secondary school with a government grant, the local administration is now looking at ways of supporting Erasmus exchange programmes for children in the community alongside plans for a ‘smart’ preschool. 

While there’s still much work to be done, Buteni is taking concrete steps towards a climate-neutral future and a better quality of life for all its residents. In doing so, the village serves as an inspiring example of how other communities can put sustainable living into practice.